The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship<\/strong>\u2014named after NED\u2019s founders, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan<\/strong> and Congressman Dante Fascell<\/strong>\u2014is a fully funded international exchange program<\/strong> hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)<\/strong> in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n This prestigious five-month fellowship supports democracy activists, journalists, civil society leaders, and scholars<\/strong> from around the world to undertake independent research, writing, and professional development<\/strong> in a rich intellectual environment.<\/p>\n The program is administered by NED\u2019s International Forum for Democratic Studies<\/strong>,<\/a> one of the world\u2019s leading centers for the analysis of global democratic trends.<\/p>\n As part of NED\u2019s new Democracy Accelerator<\/strong> framework, the fellowship convenes a select group of civic leaders, technologists, practitioners, and scholars to incubate cutting-edge ideas and solutions for advancing democracy globally.<\/p>\n Host Institution:<\/strong> National Endowment for Democracy (NED)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Location:<\/strong> Washington, D.C., United States<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Duration:<\/strong> 5 months<\/p>\n Fall Term:<\/strong> October 1 \u2013 February 28<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Spring Term:<\/strong> March 1 \u2013 July 31<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n Funding Type:<\/strong> Fully Funded<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tracks:<\/strong> Practitioner Track and Scholarly Track<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Application Deadline:<\/strong> Wednesday, December 31, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Recommendation Letter Deadline:<\/strong> Wednesday, January 7, 2026 (5:00 PM Eastern)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Notification:<\/strong> Late Spring 2026 (May)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Eligibility:<\/strong> Open to global practitioners and scholars (U.S. and non-U.S.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Program Email:<\/strong> fellowships@ned.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship is fully funded<\/strong>, covering all major expenses for the duration of the program:<\/p>\n Monthly Stipend:<\/strong> Covers cost of a furnished short-term apartment, food, transportation, and daily living expenses.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Health Insurance:<\/strong> Basic medical insurance for the fellow during residency.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Roundtrip Travel:<\/strong> Airfare to and from Washington, D.C. at the start and end of the fellowship.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Office and Research Support:<\/strong> Fellows receive a fully equipped office, access to NED resources, and a modest budget for professional travel within the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Fellows who bring dependents must cover the travel and living costs of accompanying family members.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n One-on-one advisory and editorial support<\/strong> from NED program staff.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Opportunities to engage with government, NGO, academic, and media institutions<\/strong> in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Participation in seminars, roundtables, and field visits<\/strong> to explore democratic institutions and practices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Access to a global network of democracy advocates, scholars, and policymakers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n During the five-month residency, fellows:<\/p>\n Conduct independent research and writing<\/strong> on democracy and human rights.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reflect on professional experiences and share lessons learned.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Build cross-regional and comparative perspectives on democratic development.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Produce a final product<\/strong> such as a policy paper, article, report, handbook, podcast, or video.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Present their work publicly at the end of the fellowship.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The program\u2019s new Democracy Accelerator<\/strong> model emphasizes collaboration, comparative analysis, and practical innovation to address emerging global challenges\u2014such as authoritarian influence<\/strong>, digital governance<\/strong>, and transnational repression<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Designed primarily for activists, journalists, and civic leaders<\/strong> from developing or non-democratic countries.<\/p>\n Ideal Candidates:<\/strong><\/p>\n Human rights advocates<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Civil society organizers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Political party members<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Human rights lawyers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Labor union leaders<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Journalists and media professionals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n Significant practical experience promoting democracy or human rights.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Mid-career professionals (no degree or age limits).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n English proficiency.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Full-time availability in Washington, D.C. for the five-month fellowship.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Designed for researchers and academics<\/strong> from around the world, including established democracies.<\/p>\n Ideal Candidates:<\/strong><\/p>\n Professors and lecturers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Research analysts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Policy writers and public intellectuals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n Doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent) at the time of application.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Strong record of publications in the applicant\u2019s area of expertise.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Detailed research proposal focused on democratic development.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n English proficiency and full-time residence in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Note:<\/strong> Former Reagan-Fascell fellows are not eligible<\/strong> for repeat awards.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n All applicants must:<\/p>\n Demonstrate proficiency in English.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Propose a project on democracy and human rights<\/strong>, addressing political, social, legal, or cultural aspects.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Be available for full-time, in-residence participation<\/strong> in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Submit a complete application in English before the deadline.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n To apply for the fully funded Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship:<\/p>\n Create an account<\/strong> through NED\u2019s online application portal.<\/a>\u00a0For detailed instructions on how to create an account, click\u00a0here<\/a>. Once you have set up an account, the application process requires you to submit:<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Complete the online form<\/strong> with the following materials:<\/p>\n Personal and contact information<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Project proposal<\/strong> for the Practitioner or Scholarly track<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Two letters of recommendation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n R\u00e9sum\u00e9\/CV<\/strong> and biography<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Application Deadline:<\/strong> December 31, 2025<\/strong> All submissions must be in English.<\/strong> Applicants will be notified of results by late spring 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n The fellowship is awarded through a highly competitive, annual global selection process.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Applications undergo rigorous review and are finalized by the NED Board of Directors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Deferrals are not permitted<\/strong> except in extraordinary cases.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Selected fellows are expected to align their work with NED\u2019s priorities and contribute to the institution\u2019s mission of advancing democracy worldwide.<\/p>\n Non-U.S. citizens must obtain a J-1 exchange visitor visa<\/strong>; accompanying dependents require J-2 visas.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Applicants who have participated in a J-1 research scholar program within the past 24 months<\/strong> are ineligible.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Fellows are typically subject to a two-year home residency<\/strong> requirement following the fellowship.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The Reagan-Fascell Program encourages authentic applications written in your own voice.<\/strong><\/p>\n Prohibited:<\/strong> Copying AI-generated responses directly into the application.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Permitted:<\/strong> Limited use of AI for brainstorming, editing, or translation, provided it doesn\u2019t distort your original ideas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Applications demonstrating originality and authenticity<\/strong> will be prioritized.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n For questions or application support, please contact: The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellowship<\/strong> is a fully funded opportunity<\/strong> for democracy practitioners and scholars to deepen their impact, collaborate across borders, and contribute to global democratic renewal.<\/p>\n With comprehensive financial support, access to world-class research networks, and the intellectual environment of NED, the fellowship serves as a launchpad for innovative, high-impact democratic initiatives<\/strong> around the world.<\/p>\nQuick Facts<\/h2>\n
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What the Fellowship Offers (Fully Funded Benefits)<\/h2>\n
Financial Support<\/h3>\n
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Research and Professional Development<\/h3>\n
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Fellowship Objectives<\/h2>\n
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Fellowship Tracks<\/h2>\n
Practitioner Track<\/h3>\n
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Scholarly Track<\/h3>\n
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Eligibility Criteria<\/h2>\n
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Application Process for 2026\u201327<\/h2>\n
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Recommendation Deadline:<\/strong> January 7, 2026 (5:00 PM Eastern)<\/strong><\/p>\nSelection Process<\/h2>\n
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Visa Requirements<\/h2>\n
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Responsible Use of Generative AI<\/h2>\n
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Important Dates<\/h2>\n
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\n \nActivity<\/th>\n Date<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Applications Open<\/td>\n Fall 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Application Deadline<\/td>\n December 31, 2025<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Letters of Recommendation Due<\/td>\n January 7, 2026 (5:00 PM ET)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Notification of Results<\/td>\n May 2026<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Fellowship Term 1<\/td>\n Oct 1, 2026 \u2013 Feb 28, 2027<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Fellowship Term 2<\/td>\n Mar 1, 2027 \u2013 Jul 31, 2027<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nContact<\/h2>\n
\ud83d\udce7 fellowships@ned.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nConclusion<\/h2>\n